Virus Strikes Pregnant Women
by Houston Family Magazine
Ask Amy — November 2010
When Magdalena Smart emailed Local 2 Investigates to share her tragic story, I was stunned by what I read.
The healthy mom explained how her seemingly normal pregnancy was going along smoothly until her 35th week. The doctor was so concerned about what he saw on an ultrasound that he admitted her into the hospital immediately to deliver her son that same day.
The ultrasound showed Smart’s baby had an unusually large liver and spleen. A blood test came back positive for cytomegalovirus or CMV. It was the very first time Smart had heard of CMV; and at the same time, her doctor was telling her the virus could cause retardation, deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, even death.
Smart’s email struck me because, at 18 weeks pregnant, I thought I had been warned and tested for every virus and disorder out there.
That’s why it’s no surprise doctors at the Baylor College of Medicine call CMV “the most common virus you’ve never heard of.”
Dr. Gail Demmler-Harrison is a premiere researcher of CMV at the Baylor College of Medicine. She treats infectious disease patients at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Demmler-Harrison says most of us will get CMV at some point in our lives and never know we had it. However, if a woman gets it for the first time when she’s pregnant, that’s when the seemingly silent virus shows it’s power.
“Congenital CMV in the fetus is often diagnosed at the time that the unborn baby is having problems,” Demmler-Harrison said.
Smart’s son, Zachary was born with a massively swollen liver and severe jaundice. He spent weeks in the newborn intensive care unit. Now at 16 months, Zachary still can’t walk on his own and can’t eat solid foods. He’s deaf in his left ear and is losing his hearing in his right ear. While doctors say Zachary will be able walk and eat solid foods in time, doctors fear he will likely lose his hearing entirely. Studies following infants with CMV into adulthood show hearing loss is common.
“We were so overwhelmed,” Smart said, about finding out she had CMV during her pregnancy. “We didn’t know what was happening. How did I get that? What is CMV? Why didn’t the doctor ever tell me about it?”
Preventing CMV
Demmler-Harrison says a recent study shows many obstetricians are not aware of CMV and don’t know the precautions women can take. Fortunately, she does know; and she wants expecting parents to know the cause to help prevent the spread of CMV.
“Toddlers are a virtual hot zone for CMV,” Demmler-Harrison said.
All those sloppy kisses and runny noses, common with toddlers help spread CMV. To avoid getting the virus, doctors say pregnant moms should avoid sloppy kisses with toddlers and kiss on the head instead. Pregnant women should also avoid sharing drinks or food with toddlers and wash their hands well after changing a diaper. CMV is spread through urine and saliva.
“We’re not telling women to stay away from their toddlers and treat them as if they have some sort of contagious disease,” Demmler-Harrison explained. “We are just asking them to be aware about CMV and do some simple behavior modifications while they’re pregnant.”
Doctors say about one out of every 100 babies will have CMV on some level. 10% of those children will be severely affected immediately, just like Zachary.
“Babies don’t deserve this,” Smart said. “This is preventable. So, why not prevent it?”
